Hi everyone!
We're finally home from hospital so I've come on to post my birth story. Have caught up with the posts up to our announcement but no further - so many pages!
After the event my mum (former midwife) said she had been expecting me to go into labour when she saw me on Thursday as she could see the bump had dropped and I kept having (painless) BH. Nice of her to warn me!
My waters broke unexpectedly after a day out having hair cuts and shopping. I was only in Mothercare 2 hours before - if it had happened earlier maybe we'd have got some free stuff! Meanwhile DH had been on nights and had had all of an hour and a half's sleep! He'd just gone back to bed for a nap before the next night shift (which of course he never did in the end!) when I called out from the loo that my waters had just broken, and then neither of us got any sleep on Saturday night. Poor DH was more knackered than I was and kept falling asleep on the floor of the recovery room! But that was later.....
After I posted here we went to hospital and sat and waited for a long time! They had already decided to do a CS as I was booked in for one but because it wasn't an emergency as such we weren't priority. They put me on IV antibiotics for the Strep B just in case the CS was more than 4 hours after my waters broke (in the event it was 8 hours). We were then bumped twice by people in labour who might need an emergency CS - in the event neither did but they had to keep the theatre free. Meanwhile I started getting contractions and of course I hadn't got the TENS machine as I hadn't expected to need it. So I managed without pain relief. They were painful but bearable and irregular but I was starting to get worried by the time they were finally ready for us as they were getting more painful and frequent! I was very nervous for the actual CS - terrified when the spinal block went in as she'd warned me if I moved I could end up paralysed (they have to tell you that but it's very rare!). It was very different from the emergency one - much calmer. The downside was my nerves because I was very aware of what was going on but the staff were brilliant and kept me informed every step of the way - so much better than last time. This time I wasn't sick and I didn't start shivering so when Dougie came out I was able to hold him straight away and I cuddled him while they stitched me up. We bonded straight away. He looks very different from DD but just as adorable and vulnerable. He loves me cuddling him horizontally (up my front between my breasts) and right now is cuddled up like that while I type. DD is in bed.
BF is going well. He first fed an hour after the op. We had problems initially with latching on - he would only do it on one breast - but now seems to be getting the hang of it. He's feeding about 9 times a day, more at night than the day but the MW said now we need to start waking him and feeding more often to clear the touch of jaundice. My nipples are already getting sore but are not as bad as they were on day 2 last time. I think the difference is that now I know what it feels like when he is latched on properly so they're probably not being quite as abused (plus last time DD bit me!). It doesn't really hurt once he's over the initial latch, which is how it should be.
DD is quite interested in him and often comes over to touch him. She also gave him a goodnight kiss! It's a relief to be home as she's been fine but she did miss me.
Recovery is going well. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't in pain but it's much less pain than last time - probably because there is no infection present this time. Also I had an electric bed which was wonderful!
Congrats to Mumuyumi and gothicmama and also to Biglips for your birthday which Dougie now shares with you!
It's silly but I'm actually quite pleased he came early. I somehow felt I was cheating by having a planned c-section at 39+1 - maybe he wouldn't be ready to come out? (my due date wasn't until 22 September). But in fact he's pre-empted me by being born at 38+6 so he clearly was ready after all!
Good luck to everyone else still waiting especially lollipop and hopefully - looking at the arrivals list I'm still the last one for the moment......